In memoriam: Richard Wolfenden

Richard Wolfenden, a renowned enzymologist known for his work on enzyme kinetics, died on Oct. 22, 2025. He was 90. He had been a member of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology since 1967.

Richard Wolfenden

Born May 17, 1935, in Oxford, England, Wolfenden earned an A.B. degree in chemistry from Princeton University and a B.A. and M.A. in animal physiology from Exeter College, University of Oxford. He earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry from Rockefeller University. He joined the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1970, first as an associate professor of biochemistry and later as the Alumni Distinguished Professor of chemistry, biochemistry and biophysics in the UNC School of Medicine and the College of Arts and Sciences

Wolfenden was known for his extensive work on enzyme mechanisms and water affinities of biological compounds. His research also focused on the catalytic power of enzymes. In 1995, his team found that an enzyme that helps decarboxylate orotic acid, a key intermediate in pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthesis, enhances the rate of reaction by 10¹⁷-fold; without the enzyme, the reaction would take 78 million years.

His work influenced rational drug design and helped spur the development of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, or ACE inhibitors, which are widely used to treat hypertension and heart failure.

Wolfenden was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences.

To family and friends, Wolfenden was known for his gentle manner, genuine kindness and endless curiosity. To his collaborators, he was known for his clarity of purpose and lively intellect. UNC will hold a symposium to celebrate his contributions on May 18, 2026.

Wolfenden is survived by his wife, son, sister and four grandchildren.